Johnny Telvor was not happy about Barack Obama becoming the Democratic presidential nominee. Not happy at all. Standing outside the sturdy courthouse in the sweltering heat of a West Virginia afternoon in the small town of Williamson, Telvor smoked a cigarette and bluntly gave his opinion of Obama's historic mission to be America's first black president. 'We'll end up slaves. We'll be made slaves just like they was once slaves,' he said. Telvor, a white Democrat who supported Hillary Clinton in West Virginia's primary, said he planned to vote for Republican John McCain in November. 'At least he's an American,'...

Out of all the reasons to vote against Barack Obama, this guy chooses his skin color. :|

linda22003

06-08-2008, 05:23 PM

I think a lot of people will vote based on skin color, sadly; this guy is just honest enough to say so. I can't see how voting for Obama will fit with my interests at all, which is my objection to him; it's policy-based, not complexion-based.

MrsSmith

06-08-2008, 05:30 PM

But behind such optimism, another America looms. It is an America far from the headlines that have proclaimed Obama's candidacy a revolution that will atone for a race-tinged history. This is the America where outrageous rumours that Obama is a Muslim are readily believed. It is the America where Telvor is able to voice a sentiment that 'Obama might actually be the antichrist' without apparent irony or fear of contradiction.

You've got to wonder...did the British Guardian find real racism, or just write their own racist hit piece on...

poor, white Americans

Seriously, 80% of the Democratic voters in some counties went for Hillary due to racism? In today's America? :rolleyes:

I don't actually even believe that a huge percentage voted for Obama only because he is black.

Elspeth

06-08-2008, 05:33 PM

Out of all the reasons to vote against Barack Obama, this guy chooses his skin color. :|

Looks like the media is trying to invent a narrative--and a reason for a totally unqualified candidate not to win. If Barack loses, the world media can say, "Look at those racist Americans!" and not , "Why did the Democratic party aid and abet a completely unqualified guy to become the candidate?"

Goldwater

06-08-2008, 05:37 PM

Looks like the media is trying to invent a narrative--and a reason for a totally unqualified candidate not to win. If Barack loses, the world media can say, "Look at those racist Americans!" and not , "Why did the Democratic party aid and abet a completely unqualified guy to become the candidate?"

Maybe, but I don't doubt that a lot of these people exist, just as his skin color helped him in some state primary and caucus, it also looks to be a disadvantage in other areas. But I agree, West Virginia not embracing him does not mean everyone there is a racist.

Elspeth

06-08-2008, 05:44 PM

Maybe, but I don't doubt that a lot of these people exist, just as his skin color helped him in some state primary and caucus, it also looks to be a disadvantage in other areas. But I agree, West Virginia not embracing him does not mean everyone there is a racist.

I'll bet you there were just as many out there who didn't want a woman telling them what to do either. In some places, they went with race, in others they went with gender. Six of one, half dozen of the other. The sad thing is that EVERYONE was more qualified than Obama, and the most qualified (Dodd, Biden) couldn't even get a foothold. Even that king of insanity, Dennis Kucinich, got more coverage.

And Biden was gotten out of the way early by being accused of racism for saying that Obama was "articulate." This was the same crap the Obama folks used on the Clintons. Some day, we have to get to the point where we overlook the race baiting and vote for the more experienced person anyway.

LibraryLady

06-08-2008, 05:45 PM

I think a lot of people will vote based on skin color, sadly; this guy is just honest enough to say so. I can't see how voting for Obama will fit with my interests at all, which is my objection to him; it's policy-based, not complexion-based.

I think you're right. I worked the polls at the primary here and was sadened by the horrible comments I heard from the voters.
I don't care what Obama's race is - it's his policies that worry me.

Looks like the media is trying to invent a narrative--and a reason for a totally unqualified candidate not to win. If Barack loses, the world media can say, "Look at those racist Americans!" and not , "Why did the Democratic party aid and abet a completely unqualified guy to become the candidate?"

Trying to get people to vote for Obama out of guilt?

InspiredHome

06-08-2008, 07:34 PM

Besides he's mulatto not black. So if we don't vote for him we're also 50% racist against whites. :rolleyes:

Lanie

06-08-2008, 07:56 PM

So Obama's not an American? What does it take to be an American?

Lanie

06-08-2008, 07:58 PM

Out of all the reasons to vote against Barack Obama, this guy chooses his skin color. :|

It appears that's the reason for a lot of people according the article. People really disgust me sometimes.

Goldwater

06-08-2008, 08:21 PM

Hey, this stuff happened to McCain lets remember, the stuff about him fathering a black baby and all that in South Carolina.

MrsSmith

06-08-2008, 09:20 PM

It appears that's the reason for a lot of people according the article. People really disgust me sometimes.

Isn't it funny how the BRITISH papers "know" all about American racism? :rolleyes: Especially when they even admitted in the article that the guy never mentioned Obama's race, but did mention his religious beliefs. Read the whole thing, Lanie.

Goldwater

06-08-2008, 09:29 PM

Isn't it funny how the BRITISH papers "know" all about American racism? :rolleyes: Especially when they even admitted in the article that the guy never mentioned Obama's race, but did mention his religious beliefs. Read the whole thing, Lanie.

There are certainly some that reported people not voting for Obama because they don't feel he shares their values, but enough American media outlets have reported on the race issue for you to know about it Mrs Smith.

Lanie

06-08-2008, 09:53 PM

Isn't it funny how the BRITISH papers "know" all about American racism? :rolleyes: Especially when they even admitted in the article that the guy never mentioned Obama's race, but did mention his religious beliefs. Read the whole thing, Lanie.

After living in America my entire life in one of the most racist areas and after already reading about voters who voted for Hillary because they were racists, I have no problem believing it. I'll reread it though.

Lanie

06-08-2008, 10:00 PM

Ah, here we go.

The sheer scale of Clinton's win in West Virginia - repeated from Pennsylvania to Georgia - took many pundits by surprise. But it did not shock people in Williamson, Jack Spence among them. The elderly retiree, enjoying the hot weather on a street bench, said he voted for Clinton and, now she has lost, he plans to sit out the November election. 'I can't vote for a Republican. My daddy would just roll over in his grave,' he said. But nor can he bring himself to vote for Obama, though he insisted it was not because of race. 'That does not matter to me. Though it might to a lot of folks around here,' he said.

Was there anything Obama could say during the coming campaign to convince him? 'Nope,' Spence replied. Then he broached the one issue many Americans consider off-limits: the potential security threat to Obama. 'Look, someone will kill him. Whoever Obama picks as running mate will end up being president.' Spence's ready smile and chatty manner on the thorny issue of Obama's possible murder gave little clue as to whether he thought it would be a bad thing or not.

I was discussing this with somebody else the other day. We're actually both concerned that the man's race (along with other things) might lead out to his assassination. :(

lacarnut

06-08-2008, 10:28 PM

I think you're right. I worked the polls at the primary here and was sadened by the horrible comments I heard from the voters.
I don't care what Obama's race is - it's his policies that worry me.

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I agree. However, the race issue cuts both ways and the news media does not go out of their way to report black racism. In fact, they try to cover it up.

MrsSmith

06-08-2008, 11:36 PM

There are certainly some that reported people not voting for Obama because they don't feel he shares their values, but enough American media outlets have reported on the race issue for you to know about it Mrs Smith.

I'm absolutely sure the media never, ever slants a story to affect public opinion or gain a larger audience...or whatever. :rolleyes:

That a few may vote against his race, yes. But he's gained many more votes from "guilty" whites who vote for his race.

lacarnut

06-09-2008, 12:04 AM

I'm absolutely sure the media never, ever slants a story to affect public opinion or gain a larger audience...or whatever. :rolleyes:

That a few may vote against his race, yes. But he's gained many more votes from "guilty" whites who vote for his race.

Amen to that. I think the Democrats and the media will make race a big issue especially when their poll numbers start to go south. .